Inbred corn line QH111

ABSTRACT

An inbred corn line, designated QH111, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line QH111, to the plants of inbred corn line QH111 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line QH111 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line QH111 with another corn line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive corn inbred line,designated QH111. There are numerous steps in the development of anynovel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with theanalysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the currentgermplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition ofspecific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasmthat possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is tocombine in a single variety or hybrid an improved combination ofdesirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits mayinclude higher yield, resistance to diseases and insects, better stalksand roots, tolerance to drought and heat, and better agronomic quality.

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plantreproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and thetype of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, purelinecultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superiorindividual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective,whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based onmean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of relatedplants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection,modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.

The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method.Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes fora highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach hasbeen used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Variousrecurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitativelyinherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrentselection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination,the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and thenumber of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.

Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation ofthe efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria varydepending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain fromselection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard,overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successfulcultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollarexpended, etc.).

Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared toappropriate standards in environments representative of the commercialtarget area(s) for three years at least. The best lines are candidatesfor new commercial cultivars; those still deficient in a few traits areused as parents to produce new populations for further selection.

These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing anddistribution, usually take from eight to 12 years from the time thefirst cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is atime-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficientuse of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that aregenetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic valueis masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors.One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performancerelative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standardcultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicatedobservations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

The goal of plant breeding is to develop new, unique and superior corninbred lines and hybrids. The breeder initially selects and crosses twoor more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection,producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoreticallygenerate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing,selfing and mutations. The breeder has no direct control at the cellularlevel. Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line, or evenvery similar lines, having the same corn traits.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to thenext generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and differentgeographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections arethen made, during and at the end of the growing season. The inbred lineswhich are developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is becausethe breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no controlat the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and withmillions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. Abreeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resultinglines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion.The same breeder cannot produce the same line twice by using the exactsame original parents and the same selection techniques. Thisunpredictability results in the expenditure of large research monies todevelop a superior new corn inbred line.

The development of commercial corn hybrids requires the development ofhomozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluationof the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breedingmethods are used to develop inbred lines from breeding populations.Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more inbred linesor various broad-based sources into breeding pools from which inbredlines are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. Thenew inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and the hybrids fromthese crosses are evaluated to determine which have commercialpotential.

Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement ofself-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops. Twoparents which possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed toproduce an F₁. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one or several F₁'s or by intercrossing two F₁ 's (sib mating). Selection of the bestindividuals is usually begun in the F₂ population; then, beginning inthe F₃, the best individuals in the best families are selected.Replicated testing of families, or hybrid combinations involvingindividuals of these families, often follows in the F₄ generation toimprove the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability.At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F₆ and F₇), the best lines ormixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potentialrelease as new cultivars.

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations ofeither self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variablepopulation of heterozygous individuals is either identified or createdby intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selectedbased on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellentcombining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a newpopulation in which further cycles of selection are continued.

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simplyinherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivaror inbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait tobe transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant isexpected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar)and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After theinitial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parentare selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrentparent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of therecurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferredfrom the donor parent.

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used fordifferent traits and crops can be found in one of several referencebooks (e.g., Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr,1987).

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level ofsuperiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition toshowing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivarthat is compatible with industry standards or which creates a newmarket. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional coststo the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer; for specialadvertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial productionpractices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release ofa new cultivar should take into consideration research and developmentcosts as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. Forseed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easilyand economically.

Once the inbreds that give the best hybrid performance have beenidentified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long asthe homogeneity of the inbred parent is maintained. A single-crosshybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to produce the F₁progeny. A double-cross hybrid is produced from four inbred linescrossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F₁ hybrids are crossedagain (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁ hybrids islost in the next generation (F₂). Consequently, seed from hybridvarieties is not used for planting stock.

Corn is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal ofplant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding corn hybrids that areagronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are obviously to maximizethe amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food forboth animals and humans. To accomplish this goal, the corn breeder mustselect and develop corn plants that have the traits that result insuperior parental lines for producing hybrids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred corn line,designated QH111. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbredcorn line QH111, to the plants of inbred corn line QH111 and to methodsfor producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line QH111with itself or another corn line. This invention further relates tohybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line QH111with another corn line.

The inbred corn plant of the invention may further comprise, or have, acytoplasmic factor that is capable of conferring male sterility. Partsof the corn plant of the present invention are also provided, such ase.g., pollen obtained from an inbred plant and an ovule of the inbredplant.

In one aspect, the present invention provides for single gene convertedplants of QH111. The single transferred gene may preferably be adominant or recessive allele. Preferably, the single transferred genewill confer such traits as male sterility, herbicide resistance, insectresistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, malefertility, enhanced nutritional quality, and industrial usage. Thesingle gene may be a naturally occurring maize gene or a transgeneintroduced through genetic engineering techniques.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells foruse in tissue culture or inbred corn plant QH111. The tissue culturewill preferably be capable of regenerating plants having thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoing inbredcorn plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the samegenotype as the foregoing inbred corn plant. Preferably, the regenerablecells in such tissue cultures will be embryos, protoplasts, meristematiccells, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, silk, flowers,kernels, ears, cobs, husks or stalks. Still further, the presentinvention provides corn plants regenerated from the tissue cultures ofthe invention.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables which follow, a number of terms are used.In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Predicted RM. This trait for a hybrid, predicted relative maturity (RM),is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relative maturityrating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes conventionalmaturity systems such as the Minnesota Relative Maturity Rating System.

MN RM. This represents the Minnesota Relative Maturity Rating (MN RM)for the hybrid and is based on the harvest moisture of the grainrelative to a standard set of checks of previously determined MN RMrating. Regression analysis is used to compute this rating.

Yield (Bushels/Acre). The yield in bushels/acre is the actual yield ofthe grain at harvest adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

Moisture. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture of the grain atharvest.

GDU Silk. The GDU silk (=heat unit silk) is the number of growing degreeunits (GDU) or heat units required for an inbred line or hybrid to reachsilk emergence from the time of planting. Growing degree units arecalculated by the Barger Method, where the heat units for a 24-hourperiod are: ##EQU1## The highest maximum used is 86° F. and the lowestminimum used is 50° F. For each hybrid, it takes a certain number ofGDUs to reach various stages of plant development. GDUs are a way ofmeasuring plant maturity.

Stalk Lodging. This is the percentage of plants that stalk lodge, i.e.,stalk breakage, as measured by either natural lodging or pushing thestalks determining the percentage of plants that break off below theear. This is a relative rating of a hybrid to other hybrids forstandability.

Root Lodging. The root lodging is the percentage of plants that rootlodge; i.e., those that lean from the vertical axis at an approximate30° angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

Plant Height. This is a measure of the height of the hybrid from theground to the tip of the tassel, and is measured in centimeters.

Ear Height. The ear height is a measure from the ground to the ear nodeattachment, and is measured in centimeters.

Dropped Ears. This is a measure of the number of dropped ears per plot,and represents the percentage of plants that dropped an ear prior toharvest.

Allele. The allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene,all of which alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploidcell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy correspondingloci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedlycrosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a firstgeneration hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotypes of the F₁hybrid.

Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics. Aplant having essentially all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics means a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics, except for the characteristics derived from theconverted gene.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant fromtissue culture.

Single Gene Converted. Single gene converted or conversion plant refersto plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique calledbackcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological andphysiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in addition tothe single gene transferred into the inbred via the backcrossingtechnique or via genetic engineering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Inbred corn line QH111 is a yellow dent corn with superiorcharacteristics, and provides an excellent parental line in crosses forproducing first generation (F₁) hybrid corn.

The development of QH111 was initiated from the single crossLH195×ASKC28. This single cross was then backcrossed with LH195. Theresulting combination, LH195×ASKC28)(LH195, was then selfed and thepedigree system of plant breeding was then used in the development ofQH111. Yield, stalk quality, root quality, disease tolerance, late plantgreenness, late plant intactness, ear retention, pollen sheddingability, silking ability and corn borer tolerance were the criteria usedto determine the rows from which ears were selected.

Inbred corn line QH111 has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics (based primarily on data collected at Williamsburg,Iowa). Standard deviations are shown in parenthesis.

VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION

1. TYPE: Dent

2. REGION WHERE DEVELOPED: Northcentral U.S.

3. MATURITY: ##EQU2## 4. PLANT:

Plant Height (to tassel tip): 171.8 cm (SD=8.03)

Ear Height (to base of top ear): 61.4 cm (5.82)

Average Length of Top Ear Internode: 9.7 cm (0.82)

Average number of Tillers: 0 (0)

Average Number of Ears per Stalk: 1.0 (0.0)

Anthocyanin of Brace Roots: Moderate

5. LEAF:

Width of Ear Node Leaf: 8.9 cm (0.56)

Length of Ear Node Leaf: 84.2 cm (2.71)

Number of leaves above top ear: 6 (0.66)

Leaf Angle from 2nd Leaf above ear at anthesis to Stalk above leaf: 15°(5.43)

Leaf Color: Medium Green-Munsell Code 5 GY 4/4

Leaf Sheath Pubescence (Rate on scale from 1=none to 9=like peach fuzz):5

Marginal Waves (Rate on scale from 1=none to 9=many): 2

Longitudinal Creases (Rate on scale from 1=none to 9=many): 3

6. TASSEL:

Number of Lateral Branches: 7 (1.11)

Branch Angle from Central Spike: 260 (7.85)

Tassel Length (from top leaf collar to tassel top): 42.5 cm (2.43)

Pollen Shed (Rate on scale from 0=male sterile to 9=heavy shed): 7

Anther Color: Yellow with purple tip-Munsell Code 5Y 8/10 & 5RP 4/6

Glume Color: Medium green-Munsell Code 5GY 5/6

Bar Glumes: Absent

7a. EAR: (Unhusked Data)

Silk Color (3 days after emergency): Light Green-Munsell Code 2.5GY 8/8

Fresh Husk Color (25 days after 50% silking): Light green-Munsell Code2.5GY 6/8

Dry Husk Color (65 days after 50% silking): Buff-Munsell Code 7.5 YR 7/4

Position of Ear: Upright

Husk Tightness (Rate on scale from 1=very loose to 9=very tight): 5

Husk Extension: Medium (<8 cm)

7b. EAR: (Husked Ear Data)

Ear Length: 14.5 cm (1.01)

Ear Diameter at mid-point: 42.3 mm (3.00)

Ear Weight: 103.8 gm (26.90)

Number of Kernel Rows: 16 (1.40)

Kernel Rows: Distinct

Row Alignment: Straight

Shank Length: 10.7 cm (2.78)

Ear Taper: Slight

8. KERNEL: (Dried)

Kernel Length: 10.2 mm (0.8)

Kernel Width: 7.5 mm (0.6)

Kernel Thickness: 4.6 mm (0.60)

Round Kernels (Shape Grade): 85.3% (5.65)

Aleurone Color Pattern: Homozygous

Aleurone Color: White--Munsell Code 2.5Y 8/2

Hard Endosperm Color: Yellow--Munsell Code 2.5Y 8/8

Endosperm Type: High Oil

Weight per 100 kernels: 19.3 gm (0.47)

9. COB:

Cob Diameter at Mid-Point: 32.1 mm (2.10)

Cob Color: Pink--Munsell code 5R 7/4

10. DISEASE RESISTANCE:

    ______________________________________                                        Rating   [1 = (most susceptible) through 9 = (most resistant)]                ______________________________________                                        7        Anthracnose Leaf Blight (Colletotrichum graminicola)                   5 Eyespot (Kabatiella zeae)                                                   4 Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)                                     6 Helmintosporium Leaf Spot (Bipolaris zeicola) Race 3                        8 Northern Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum) Race 2                          6 Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis)                                   ______________________________________                                    

11. AGRONOMIC TRAITS:

    ______________________________________                                        6   Stay Green (at 65 days after anthesis) (Rate on scale from 1 = worst            to 9 = excellent)                                                         0% Dropped Ears (at 65 days after anthesis)                                   0% Pre-anthesis Brittle Snapping                                              0% Pre-anthesis Root Lodging                                                  0% Post-anthesis Root Lodging (at 65 days after anthesis)                   ______________________________________                                    

This invention is also directed to methods for producing a corn plant bycrossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plant,wherein the first or second corn plant is the inbred corn plant from theline QH111. Further, both first and second parent corn plants may befrom the inbred line QH111. Therefore, any methods using the inbred cornline QH111 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybridbreeding, and crosses to populations. Any plants produced using inbredcorn line QH111 as a parent are within the scope of this invention.Advantageously, the inbred corn line is used in crosses with other cornvarieties to produce first generation (F₁) corn hybrid seed and plantswith superior characteristics.

As used herein, the term "plant" includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell of tissue culture from which corn plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as pollen, flowers, kernels, ears,cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, and the like.

The present invention contemplates a corn plant regenerated from atissue culture of an inbred (e.g., QH111) or hybrid plant of the presentinvention. As is well known in the art, tissue culture of corn can beused for the in vitro regeneration of a corn plant. By way of example, aprocess of tissue culturing and regeneration of corn is described inEuropean Patent Application, publication 160,390, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference. Corn tissue culture procedures arealso described in Green & Rhodes (I 982) and Duncan, et al., (1985). Thestudy by Duncan et al., (1985) indicates that 97 percent of culturedplants produced calli capable of regenerating plants. Subsequent studieshave shown that both inbreds and hybrids produced 91 percent regenerablecalli that produced plants.

Other studies indicate that non-traditional tissues are capable ofproducing somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. See, e.g.,Songstad et al., (1988); Rao et al., (1986); and Conger et al., (1987),the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.Regenerable cultures may be initiated from immature embryos as describedin PCT publication WO 95/06128, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide for cells whichupon growth and differentiation produce the inbred line QH111.

LH195, one of the progenitors of QH111, is a proprietary field corninbred lines of Holden's Foundation Seeds, LLC, of Williamsburg, Iowa.After applying for plant variety protection of LH195 in 1990, Holden'swas awarded certificate #9000047 on May 31, 1991. LH195 is alsoprotected by a utility patent number 5,059,745 granted by the U.S.Patent Office on Oct. 22, 1991. ASKC28 (Alexander Single Kernel Cycle28), the other progenitor, is a high oil corn population developed bythe University of Illinois. This particular population, ASKC28, isincluded in an exclusive license agreement between the University ofIllinois and the joint venture collaboration of E. I. DuPont De Nemours& Co., of Wilmington, Del., and Pfister Hybrid Corn Co., of El Paso,Ill.

QH111 is similar to LH195, however, there are numerous differencesincluding the composition of the kernel. The kernel composition of QH111is higher in oil content than the kernel of LH195 which is a normal dentcorn inbred. The distinctiveness of the high oil kernel phenotype ofQH111 is vivid and can be easily identified visually as having a largergerm than normal dent corn germ of LH195. The corn kernel germ consistsof the embryo and the scutellum. The latter contains 83%-85% of thetotal oil in the kernel. The instrument used to determine oil content inthe kernel is a near-infrared spectrophotometer (NIR). The measurementis based on the fact that the main constituents in grain or seed such asprotein, oil and starch absorb electromagnetic radiation in thenear-infrared region of the spectrum.

The high oil corn has twice as much energy as starch, on a per unitweight basis, so high oil corn has more nutrient or caloric density thanregular corn. This higher caloric density offers benefits to thelivestock producer in two ways: 1) It can substitute for fat alreadybeing added to optimized rations; or 2) it can add energy to rationsalready being optimized. The higher caloric density means animals willget more growth or production energy for any given volume of feedconsumed. High oil corn also offers a better amino acid balance thannormal corn, with somewhat higher levels of lysine and methionine. Inoperations where dust levels are a problem (feed mills, confinementfacilities, etc.) high oil corn offers the additional advantage of lowdust, so spraying with water or vegetable oil to reduce dust may not benecessary.

Comparison data between QH111 and LH195 at 20 observations suggests asignificant difference at the 1% probability level according to a pairedT-test. The mean showed on average the kernel oil content of QH111(6.8%) is more than the average kernel oil content of LH195 (4.3%).

Some of the criteria used to select ears in various generations include:yield, stalk quality, root quality, disease tolerance, late plantgreenness, late season plant intactness, ear retention, pollen sheddingability, silking ability, and corn borer tolerance. During thedevelopment of the line, crosses were made to inbred testers for thepurpose of estimating the line's general and specific combining ability,and evaluations were run by the Williamsburg, Iowa Research Station. Theinbred was evaluated further as a line and in numerous crosses by theWilliamsburg and other research stations across the Corn Belt. Theinbred has proven to have a very good combining ability in hybridcombinations.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability. It has beenself-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generations, withcareful attention to uniformity of plant type to ensure homozygosity andphenotypic stability. The line has been increased both by hand andsibbed in isolated fields with continued observations for uniformity. Novariant traits have been observed or are expected in QH111.

TABLES

In the tables that follow, the traits and characteristics of inbred cornline QH111 are given in hybrid combination. The data collected on inbredcorn line QH111 is presented for the key characteristics andtraits.QH111 was tested in several hybrid combinations at numerouslocations, with two or three replications per location. Informationabout these hybrids, as compared to several check hybrids, is presented.For each hybrid combination, the kernel composition is listed forpercentages of oil, protein and starch.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        1997 Hybrid Combinations with QH111                                                       % Oil      % Protein                                                                              % Starch                                      ______________________________________                                        QH111 × LH172                                                                       5.37       11.6     67.8                                            QH111 × LH283 5.76 11.3 67.1                                            QH111 × QH101 7.38 12.2 65.2                                          ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        1998 Hybrid Combinations with QH111                                                       % Oil      % Protein                                                                              % Starch                                      ______________________________________                                        QH111 × LH172                                                                       5.6        9.9      67.9                                            QH111 × LH210 5.1 10.8 68.3                                             QH111 × LH262 5.3 12.1 67.6                                             QH111 × LH283 5.8 11.9 66.9                                             QH111 × LH284 5.4 10.3 68.5                                             QH111 × QH101 7.3 11.3 65.8                                             QH111 × QH102 8.1 11.7 64.2                                           ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        1998 Hybrid Combinations with LH195                                                       % Oil      % Protein                                                                              % Starch                                      ______________________________________                                        LH195 × LH185                                                                       4.0        10.9     69.7                                            LH195 × LH210 4.2 11.7 69.0                                             LH195 × LH212 3.6 11.5 70.3                                             LH195 × LH216 4.2 11.5 69.0                                             LH195 × LH284 4.1 10.9 69.9                                             LH195 × QH101 6.1 10.4 67.7                                             LH195 × QH102 6.6 11.4 65.8                                           ______________________________________                                    

When the term inbred corn plant is used in the context of the presentinvention, this also includes any single gene conversions of thatinbred. The term single gene converted plant as used herein refers tothose corn plants which are developed by a plant breeding techniquecalled backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in additionto the single gene transferred into the inbred via the backcrossingtechnique. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present inventionto improve or introduce a characteristic into the inbred. The termbackcrossing as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybridprogeny back to one of the parental corn plants for that inbred. Theparental corn plant which contributes the gene for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental corn plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol (Poehiman & Sleper,1994; Fehr, 1987). In a typical backcross protocol, the original inbredof interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second inbred(nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to betransferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossedagain to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cornplant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recoveredin the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene fromthe nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalinbred. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent inbred ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological,constitution of the original inbred. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross, one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomicallyimportant trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol willdepend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine anappropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods aresimplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominantallele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance itmay be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not betransgenic, examples of these traits include but are not limited to,male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide resistance, resistance forbacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, male fertility,enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability andyield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through thenucleus. Some known exceptions to this are the genes for male sterility,some of which are inherited cytoplasmically, but still act as singlegene traits. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,777,196, the disclosure of which is specifically herebyincorporated by reference.

A further aspect of the invention relates to tissue culture of cornplants designated QH111. As used herein, the term "tissue culture"indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plantclumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, kernels,ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk andthe like. In a preferred embodiment, tissue culture is embryos,protoplast, meristematic cells, pollen, leaves or anthers. Means forpreparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in theart. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs such astassels or anthers, has been used to produce regenerated plants. (SeeU.S. Pat. No. 5,445,961 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,789, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference).

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the Holden's Foundation Seeds, LLP proprietary Inbred CornLine QH111 disclosed above and recited in the appended claims has beenmade with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Virginia 20110. The date of deposit was January 26,2000. The deposit of 2,500 seeds were taken from the same depositmaintained by Holden's Foundation Seeds, LLP since prior to the filingdate of this application. All restrictions upon the deposit have beenremoved, and the deposit is intended to meet all the requirements of 37C.F.R. §1,801-1.809. The ATCC accession number is PTA-1223. The depositwill be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent,whichever is longer, and will be replaced as necessary during thatperiod.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inbred corn seed designated QH111, wherein asample of said seed has been deposited under ATCC Accession No.PTA-1223.
 2. A corn plant, or its parts, produced by growing the seed ofclaim
 1. 3. Pollen of the plant of claim
 2. 4. An ovule of the plant ofclaim
 2. 5. A corn plant, or parts thereof, having all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the corn plant ofclaim
 2. 6. Tissue culture of the seed of claim
 1. 7. A corn plantregenerated from the tissue culture of claim 6, wherein said corn plantis capable of expressing all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of inbred corn line QH111.
 8. Tissue culture ofregenerable cells of the plant, or its parts, of claim
 2. 9. The tissueculture of claim 8, wherein the regenerable cells are derived fromembryos, meristematic cells, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,silk, flower, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, stalks, protoplasts or calli.10. A corn plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 9, whereinsaid corn plant is capable of expressing all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of inbred corn line QH111.
 11. A methodfor producing a hybrid corn seed comprising crossing a first inbredparent corn plant with a second inbred parent corn plant and harvestingthe resultant hybrid corn seed, wherein said first or second parent cornplant is the corn plant of claim
 2. 12. A hybrid corn seed produced bythe method of claim
 11. 13. A hybrid corn plant, or its parts, producedby growing said hybrid corn seed of claim
 12. 14. Corn seed produced bygrowing said hybrid corn plant of claim
 13. 15. A corn plant, or itsparts, produced from seed of claim
 14. 16. A method for producing ahybrid corn seed comprising crossing an inbred plant according to claim2 with another, different corn plant.
 17. A hybrid corn seed produced bythe method of claim
 16. 18. A hybrid corn plant, or its parts, producedby growing said hybrid corn seed of claim
 17. 19. Corn seed producedfrom said hybrid corn plant of claim
 18. 20. A corn plant, or its parts,produced from the corn seed of claim
 19. 21. The corn plant of claim 5,further comprising a single gene conversion.
 22. The corn plant of claim21, further comprising a cytoplasmic factor conferring male sterility.23. The single gene conversion of the corn plant of claim 21, where thegene is a gene which is introduced by transgenic methods.
 24. The singlegene conversion of the corn plant of claim 21, where the gene is adominant allele.
 25. The single gene conversion of the corn plant ofclaim 21, wherein the gene is a recessive allele.
 26. The single geneconversion corn plant of claim 21, where the gene confers herbicideresistance.
 27. The single gene conversion of the corn plant of claim21, where the gene confers insect resistance.
 28. The single geneconversion of the corn plant of claim 21, where the gene confersresistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease.
 29. The single geneconversion of the corn plant of claim 21, where the gene confers malesterility.
 30. The single gene conversion of the corn plant of claim 21,where the gene confers waxy starch.